Railway policy news – Page 29
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NewsSaudi Arabia approves merger of railway companies
SAUDI ARABIA: The merger of Saudi Railways Organization and Saudi Railways Company has been formally approved. The combined entity will be responsible for all inter-city railways in the country, and will use the Saudi Railways Company name, abbreviated SAR. The merger and associated legislative changes would ...
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NewsThree step plan to improve Australian rail services
AUSTRALIA: The Australian Railway Association has published a report commissioned from Arup which sets out a three-step plan to provide faster, more reliable and more frequent rail services through upgrades to the existing network and the creation of dedicated fast lines. The ...
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Rail Business UKPassenger Experience and Economics, Policy & Operations rail research centres planned
UK: The UK Rail Research & Innovation Network has called on academic institutions to express interest in establishing two centres of excellence. The Inclusive Passenger Experience centre would focus on topics such as inclusive design, digital connectivity, future passenger preferences, and demand and performance metrics. The ...
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NewsERFA calls for reduction in freight access charges to help meet EU targets
EUROPE: The European Rail Freight Association has welcomed reductions in track access charges in Austria, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and called for further waiving or reductions of charges in other EU member states. ERFA said it was ‘of utmost importance that ambitious measures are ...
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Rail Business UKWales & Borders rail franchise taken into public ownership
UK: The Welsh Government took Wales & Borders passenger services into public ownership on February 7, insisting that the move which had been announced in October would provide longer-term financial stability to ‘protect services, safeguard jobs and deliver infrastructure improvements in light of the ongoing challenges of coronavirus.’
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NewsAfrican Rail Industry Association says reform and regulatory stability will unlock economic growth
A 422 km section of the former Benguela Railway in northwestern DR Congo was reactivated in 2016 following extensive refurbishment. AFRICA: The independent RailRoad Association of South Africa has rebranded itself as the African Rail Industry Association, positioning itself to play a greater role in revitalising railways ...
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Rail Business UKFranchise termination negotiations run on past deadline
UK: Negotiations over the termination of passenger franchise contracts are proving difficult, with some payments yet to be agreed and direct awards still being discussed.
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NewsButtigieg confirmed as Secretary of Transportation
USA: Former Democratic presidential contender and mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, was confirmed as federal Secretary of Transportation by an 86:13 vote in the Senate on February 2.
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NewsDFC concessions proposed to raise infrastructure funding
INDIA: Plans to outsource the operation and maintenance of the Dedicated Freight Corridors were unveiled as part of the national budget for the 2021-22 financial year, which was presented to parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.
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NewsCall for Eurostar trains to be made available to support on-rail competition
EUROPE: The ALLRAIL association of new entrants to the rail market has said any government support which might be offered to Eurostar during the coronavirus pandemic should be accompanied by conditions designed to facilitate cross-Channel competition.
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NewsiLint hydrogen project wins European Railway Award
EUROPE: Germany’s iLint initiative to put hydrogen fuel cell trains into commercial operation on regional lines in Niedersachsen was named as winner of the 14th European Railway Award during a virtual ceremony on January 25, hosted from Brussels by industry associations UNIFE and CER. According to the ...
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NewsDigitalisation, infrastructure and modal shift on the German industry’s wish list
GERMANY: Eight railway industry associations have jointly set out their three most important requests from politicians ahead of the federal election to be held in September this year. The three requests are to expand railway infrastructure to support a Deutschlandtakt national regular-interval timetable; to systematically digitalise ...
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NewsFrance pauses tendering of TET inter-city routes
FRANCE: Government plans to let concessions to operate the 10 conventional inter-city services for which it remains responsible have been put on hold pending a review of the tendering conditions.
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NewsRs38tr investment envisaged in National Rail Plan
INDIA: The Ministry of Railways has begun consultation on its National Rail Plan, intended to shape the evolution of Indian Railways up to 2050.
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In depthSwitzerland: Ceneri Base Tunnel opening completes NEAT jigsaw
The December timetable change marked the start of regular commercial services through the Ceneri Base Tunnel at the southern end of Switzerland’s busy Gotthard corridor. Toma Bačić reports.
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NewsVale agrees concession extensions in ‘biggest step in railway history’
BRAZIL: Mining company Vale has agreed terms with the government to extend its concessions to operate the Estrado de Ferro Carajás and Estrado de Ferro Vitória a Minas by 30 years.
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Metro Report InternationalNew EMUs enter service as first Berlin S-Bahn concession starts
GERMANY: The first Class 483/484 EMUs for the Berlin S-Bahn network began running on route S47 in the early hours of January 1, as the route became the first in the city to be operated under a tendered contract. The Spindlersfeld – ...
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NewsPTC implementation completed, reports FRA
USA: Full implementation of Positive Train Control on all required routes has been achieved ahead of the Congressional deadline of December 31 2020, the Federal Railroad Administration confirmed on December 29.
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NewsTaxirail lightweight vehicle demonstrator with AI to start trials in 2021
FRANCE: Trials with a self-propelled ultra-lightweight rail vehicle intended for rural railways or lightly-used lines are due to commence towards the end of 2021.
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NewsTemporary rules to keep the Channel Tunnel open
EUROPE: The European Parliament has approved temporary measures designed to ensure that rail operations through the Channel Tunnel can continue once the Brexit transition period ends on January 1 2021. The European Parliament approved the temporary rules under an urgent procedure on December 17 with 684 votes ...